We got the opportunity to test out and sample lots of products in 2013. The one I was most excited to try was the Salomon Fellraiser trail shoes.
Before the Fellraisers I was using New Balance minimal 915 trail shoes. They were great but had seen better days. The mesh on the toe box had started getting a hole as I tend to rub the top of the box with my nails. And the tread at the bottom was getting worn from all the races I had done. So they were not as reliable during races.
I read that the Salomons tend to run a little snug, so I opted to go up a ½ size than my normal shoe size.
Then came the test run…
Salomon Fellraiser vs. The Trails
Their first taste of mud was at the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Acton, CA. This course was hilly with dry loose dirt trails. Because the shoe is low it didn’t do much from keeping small pebbles out of my shoes. I did have to stop during the race to empty my shoes. Even with the Quicklaces those pesky little rocks still found their way into my shoes.
Salomon Quicklaces vs. The Mud
On the downside – I did notice the lock on the Quicklaces was more difficult to use when taking the shoes off after the race. All those tiny rocks and mud did a number of the locking mechanism and I had to use quite a bit of strength to loosen the laces.
On the positive note – once I took them home for a good washing, the Quicklaces work seamlessly once again.
Salomon Fellraiser vs. Water
Since this was a mud run, there were many water obstacles as well. The open mesh upper did a great job draining water. At no point during the race did I feel weighted down by water in the shoes.
Salomon Fellraiser vs. Terrain
There were several steep parts of the course and lots of slippery obstacles. The tread on these shoes was put to the test. And they passed with flying colors. This became even more apparent when I wore them to the Malibu Spartan Sprint. This course was rainy and muddy from start to finish. And at no time did I lose my grip while on the trails or on obstacles.
Socks vs. No Socks
When I first mentioned I got these shoes to test, a ready asked me what I thought of running in them with no socks. I don’t usually run this way, but I said I would test it and report back.
I was actually surprised how comfortable they were with no socks. I was able to use the Quicklaces to easily get a snug fit. I still had issues with rocks in the shoes, but I was able to quickly take my foot in and out of the shoe to remove the rocks. Maybe I’m a little sensitive to rocks. Just call me Princess and the pea rock!
Salomon Fellraiser vs. The Hose
Clean-up is an important part of any obstacle racer’s routine. I was impressed at how easily these shoes were to clean. I was able to easily remove the insoles and rinse those off separately.
How do they hold up in the washing machine? I can’t tell you that since I never put my shoes in there. But I did use a small scrub brush and the hose to get all the mud and dirt off. They were quick to dry and looked almost new after their cleaning.
Salomon Fellraiser Recap
All in all I really loved the Salomon Fellraiser trail shoe. I have used them so far for many obstacle races and trail runs. They are still very comfortable and have held up very well. I would recommend this shoe to anyone who is in the market for a new pair of trail shoes. Especially for those who need a sturdy reliable shoe for obstacle racing.
This was my first experience with Quicklace™ lacing system. It took me a minute to figure them out, but I liked the idea of not having to worry about loose laces.
It was a good call to go up the half size. The toe box was not as narrow as my other shoes, so there was lots of room to stretch my toes.
They were much lighter than they appeared. I was concerned that moving from a minimal shoe, that these would feel too heavy, but I was pleasantly surprised. They were very comfortable with lots of cushion.
I really liked the removable Ortholite® foot beds. This gives me the option to remove during runs or keep them I for a little more cushion. They add shock absorption and have an antimicrobial treatment the helps avoid foot funk.
The protective toe cap covers part of the upper part of the toe box is great. The mesh starts far enough back to where my toenail won’t rub against it and create a hole like my previous shoes.
Technical Info (Courtesy of Amazon.com):
- Midsole Height:
- Heel/Forefoot: 12 mm/6 mm
Differential: 6 mm - Weight: 10 oz
- SensiFit™ wraps the foot for a secure fit and feel.
- Quicklace™ system for speedy adjustments.
- Lace pocket for easy storage.
- Tongue cover helps keep mud and debris out.
- Breathable open mesh upper.
- Protective TPU toe cap.
- OrthoLite® insole supplies light underfoot cushioning.
- Agile Chassis system featuring AC Muscle 2 for enhanced rebound.
- Non-marking Running Contagrip® outsole features the perfect blend of grip and durability to cover mixed terrain at high speeds.
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,out of Top 100 in Shoes
About Salomon
Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Driven by a passion for skiing and design innovation, Francois Salomon and his son George designed and perfected much of the first modern ski equipment. During the following 60 years, Salomon’s commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in boots, skis and apparel and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for hiking, adventure racing, mountaineering and trail running. Through performance-driven design, Salomon enhances mountain sports by converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility.
Disclaimer: Shoes were provided by Salomon for use and for the purpose of this review. Affiliate links used within the post.
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